Alabama

Finebaum: Arkansas, South Carolina have been a drag on the SEC

View full size(Press-Register/John David Mercer)Paul Finebaum: Arkansas and South Carolina have tended to hold back the SEC.In the mad dash for the Southeastern Conference to expand, it might be worth looking back 20 years to the last time the league went down this long and winding road.

Since 1992, when the league expansion went into effect, has either Arkansas or South Carolina really brought anything to the dance? Instead of expanding by two or four, some have wondered if a better way of handling this would be addition by subtraction - starting with sending Arkansas and South Carolina back where they came from.

Take Arkansas ... please.

The Hogs did account for an NCAA basketball title in 1994 and a runner-up finish the following year under Nolan Richardson. But they really haven't been worth a flip in the sport since. In the last 10 years, the Hogs have won a grand total of one NCAA tournament game. Now, Arkansas is known for winning titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track.

How about football? The Hogs have made three appearances in the SEC championship game - 1995, 2002 and 2006. The Hogs finished second in the SEC West in 2002 but Alabama was kept home because of NCAA probation. The Hogs are 0-3 in those title games, being outscored 102-34. Can you say not ready for prime time?

Arkansas hasn't been a total embarrassment during its SEC football run - nor has it really brought much to the table. No BCS appearances. Mostly, mediocrity. In 18 seasons, Arkansas has only posted a winning divisional record four times, based on actual results and excluding games later forfeited.

Oh, let us not forget the much hyped Arkansas visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum in 2005. How did the mighty SEC rep do against the top-ranked Trojans? The Hogs were slaughtered, 70-17. Arkansas was much improved in 2006 in the rematch at Fayetteville, only losing 50-14. Add it up and it spells USC 120, Arkansas 31.

South Carolina has been even more miserable in 18 years. The Gamecocks made it to the NCAA basketball tournament in 1997 when they had a break-out season, making the field as a No. 2 seed. What happened? The Gamecocks promptly suffered one of the most humiliating losses in modern NCAA history, losing in the first round to Coppin State, 78-65. Back again next year, the same thing happened, with Richmond knocking USC out in the first round. An NCAA appearance banner finally went back up again in 2004, and once again, a first-round knockout.

In football, the school has hired two Hall of Fame coaches in Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier. Both have done more with less.

In 18 seasons in the SEC, the Gamecocks have been to seven postseason bowls, the biggest being the Outback. Only three times have the Gamecocks posted a winning record in their division. In 18 years, how many times do you think the Gamecocks have gone north of winning eight games? Once.

The school has also managed the daily double of going 0-8 back to back in the SEC East in 1998 and 1999, a combined 1-21 during those years in all games.

And frankly, it is not like Arkansas and South Carolina have really brought television viewers to the SEC footprint. South Carolina ranks No. 24 among the largest states and Arkansas is at No. 32. Arkansas did give us a president - Bill Clinton - who was impeached but not convicted. South Carolina gave us a governor - Mark Sanford - who was nearly impeached.

So did the SEC make a good decision nearly 20 years ago when it settled for Arkansas and South Carolina?

Before answering, take a quick look at how the two who got away have done during this period in football.

Texas has won a BCS title and lost another to Alabama. In all, the Longhorns have made four BCS appearances. Also, since 1992, the Longhorns have finished in the top 10 in the final AP poll seven times.

And what about FSU?

Since shunning the SEC, FSU has won two national titles and played for No. 1 five times - including three straight BCS title games between 1998-2000. The Seminoles have also notched nine top-five finishes in the final AP poll during this period.

What does this prove? Well, it clearly shows the SEC lost badly when Texas and Florida State slipped away 20 years ago. Especially when you consider their population footprint -- Texas ranks No.2 and Florida is No. 4.

As for Arkansas and South Carolina, have they brought anything to the table? Not much, unless you considering taking up space a major accomplishment.(Contact Paul Finebaum at finebaumnet@yahoo.com. His column appears Tuesdays in the Press-Register.)